Help with lease

[amcpons]

Hi,
I was hoping someone can help me with what to do in my situation or if anyone has dealt with this before.

I have been living in Canada with my partner for a year next week. Problem is, first we were not planning to apply for common law so we never thought of proofs of me living here. When we decided to live together I couldnt be part of the lease because of my visitor status.

So the lease is only under his name, we dont know the landlord so we cant even ask for a letter. I do have mail delivered to this address for both of us, i do have neighbors that can write a letter saying we have been here together but I have nothing more official, like the lease or the notarized landlord letter some people mention in forum as proof.

What else can I do? What have others sent as proof in a situation like this?
Thanks

 

[Rob_TO]

What else can I do? What have others sent as proof in a situation like this?
Thanks

- Show mail delivered to address dated to when you first moved in
- show receipts or bank payments showing shared payments of household purchases or utility costs
- Your partner will change marital status with CRA from single to common-law effective the date you reach 12 months cohabitation, so take a printout of the CRA page that states that
- Can partner add you to employer insurance as common-law partner?
- get private term life insurance on each other
- get joint bank account
- get supplementary credit card so both names appear on 1 bill

Getting notarized testimonials from neighbours will also help.

 

[TorontoEH]

Hey Rob,

This is more of a question for me. I am currently visiting while we wait for my PR. We had no hassles at all when I entered Canada as a visitor a few months back. I am hoping for more of the same as I will be traveling out of Canada to see my children soon and will have to come back in as a visitor. ECAS is showing my application as "in process" at the Pretoria VO. We ave avoided Canadian based joint bank accounts and anything else that could show plans to live here or establish in Canada while on a TRV. Has this been unnecessary, do you think we can open a joint account in Canada etc?

I haven't purchased my return ticket yet for when I come back into Canada, I have asked on the forum before whether it is important and it seems that it is the case. I will most likely by a refundable return as I have had to wait on specific plans while we work out when I will get to see the children again. I don't want to get a false sense of security based on our dealing with immigration and the fact that it was really straight forward, she asked hardly any questions and suggested that I should extend my visitors visa if I wanted to stay longer.

 

[amcpons]

Thank you so much!

I was hoping you can help me understand better, how do applicants show the receipts or bank payments of household purchases or utility costs?
Im just wondering...like does it mean paying the light bill with our joint account? or what kind of payment can it be? and what kind of receipt since im wondering, sometimes i pay..sometimes he does..specially on groceries or maybe something like a barbecue grill we bought? but the ticket just shows that i payed for it, or my bank receipt does too..like are this kind of things proof or what do others sent?


We have the joint accounts, the credit card and the life insurance on him, since i havent been able to get it. in my country an outsider cant be a beneficiary and i havent been able to buy insurance here as a visitor..in case someone has a tip on what to do there.

finally, could you explain what is the employer insurance as a common law partner? i tried to look and i cant find what you are refering to.

also, would the neighbors letters would have to be notarized? i keep finding different opinions about this in the forum. It mentions the landlord letter wil not be valid unless is notarized, however, will the neighbors ones would be fine? We are also sending other friends letters and we were not planning to notarize those.

Thank you so much for this, is really amazing to count with this forum for help!

 

[Ponga]

Hey Rob,

This is more of a question for me. [deleted]

Wow! Hijacking another member's thread, only to start off by saying "...This is more of a question for me. ..." is pretty rude...eh?

 

[TorontoEH]

Well Ponga I generally make sure to stay humble when commenting after someone more experienced like Rob has given his opinion. I was under the impression that opening accounts etc in Canada while on TRV is a bad idea as It shows plans to establish in Canada. Hence, communicating the way I did allows other members to correct me if I am wrong and also provides more information to the person who initially asked the question along with the information for myself. It may also have had Rob reconsider his advise in the event that I had a point or my concern was real.

As a small additional positive it does also allow for information to be shared as that is what we are for at the end of the day.

Thanks for your arrogant input though, it hasn't helped anyone. Should I check with you in future before responding or is it safe to say that this is a public forum where we all have a common purpose! OR maybe it makes you feel important, If that is the case then just say so and I'll blow some smoke up your butt to make you feel better. Happy to extend you that courtesy if it will genuinely improve your self image!

 

[amcpons]

wow, like i said before is awesome to have amazing people in this forum that help others with their questions.
so far everyone had been very helpful...until today...so now this thread is nothing of what i need, so if anyone has anything else to say specially to offend others please open your own post.

If anyone has any comment about my lease problem and doubts then i really appreciate the help.

 

[TorontoEH]

I'm genuinely sorry that it came to this. I was honestly trying to query advise given to you which conflicts with advise which was given to me. I was hoping to do it without making statements and having to be corrected.

As I eluded to in my previous message, I have been given advise and have also found information stating that Immigration will frown upon actions that seem like you are establishing residence in Canada while on TRV. I believe that opening a joint account in Canada while on TRV will be a concern for immigration should they find out, the same applies for a CC in your name in the form of an additional card etc. I however stand to be corrected!

Anything that proves that you have been living together will help with the application. Many couples live together while one is on TRV to establish common law and immigration are aware of this. As Rob mentioned, any mail delivered to the address, any correspondence which reflects the address, CRA declaration of common law etc will help. Your entry stamp if you have one would also add to the case.

If I can think of anything else I will let you know.

 

[truesmile]

Personally, I felt TorontoEH's post was along similar lines as the OP's (somewhat anyway), and justifiable to put it here. It wasn't clear however if his 'similar case' was similar because he/they are also common-law or not. I will say this however . . . Once here (in Canada)! On a TRV or otherwise, it would have been no harm to have joint bank accounts, joint lease, etc. at that point.

 

[amcpons]

ok well now im passed the point of if it will affect my visitor status since it seems my priority is to proof common law or i will never get residency.

my problem with the lease is not the fact that i dont want to sign it..is the fact that management company wont allow a visitor to be on the lease, so i need to find other ways to prove i have been living with him.

would the neighbors letter have to be notarized? then the friends letters too? i did read in here that a landlord letter will not be valid unless is notarized, but we dont even know landlord so thats no option, im just finding the best way to fill a good application.

also what kind of receipt have applicants send to show they share expenses? since receipts will be either on mine account or his..or you mean paying stuff with our joint account?? im just confused of what kind of tickets or bank statements can show is shared since nothing we buy is payed half and half...will grocery bill count then?

finally im intrigued about the employer insurance for common law mentioned before..can anyone explain what is this?

Thanks again.

 

[Ponga]

Well Ponga I generally make sure to stay humble when commenting after someone more experienced like Rob has given his opinion. I was under the impression that opening accounts etc in Canada while on TRV is a bad idea as It shows plans to establish in Canada. Hence, communicating the way I did allows other members to correct me if I am wrong and also provides more information to the person who initially asked the question along with the information for myself. It may also have had Rob reconsider his advise in the event that I had a point or my concern was real.

As a small additional positive it does also allow for information to be shared as that is what we are for at the end of the day.

Thanks for your arrogant input though, it hasn't helped anyone. Should I check with you in future before responding or is it safe to say that this is a public forum where we all have a common purpose! OR maybe it makes you feel important, If that is the case then just say so and I'll blow some smoke up your butt to make you feel better. Happy to extend you that courtesy if it will genuinely improve your self image!

I guess we have differing views on Netiquette. My apologies to you for getting you all worked up.

Good luck with your PR application.

 

[Ponga]

ok well now im passed the point of if it will affect my visitor status since it seems my priority is to proof common law or i will never get residency.

my problem with the lease is not the fact that i dont want to sign it..is the fact that management company wont allow a visitor to be on the lease, so i need to find other ways to prove i have been living with him.

would the neighbors letter have to be notarized? then the friends letters too? i did read in here that a landlord letter will not be valid unless is notarized, but we dont even know landlord so thats no option, im just finding the best way to fill a good application.

also what kind of receipt have applicants send to show they share expenses? since receipts will be either on mine account or his..or you mean paying stuff with our joint account?? im just confused of what kind of tickets or bank statements can show is shared since nothing we buy is payed half and half...will grocery bill count then?

finally im intrigued about the employer insurance for common law mentioned before..can anyone explain what is this?

Thanks again.

As a visitor living in Canada it will be impossible for you to purchase life insurance. Unless you still have a valid address in your home country, that you could list as your home address, you won't be able to find an an insurance company to issue you a policy. This is just as well, because claiming to live elsewhere (when you've really been living in Canada for nearly a year) would be a form of insurance fraud.

Your Canadian partner, however, can get a policy showing you as the beneficiary.

Might be something to consider.

 

[amcpons]

Thanks Ponga, we did got the life insurance for him, you are right there is no way to get it for me, which is very confusing for CIC to ask for both.

About the neighbors letters, can anyone help me understand if they would be valid without being notarized? other posts are very specific about landlord letters HAVE to be notarized or wont be part of application. However friends letters seem to be fine just signed...is there any difference with my neighbors?

Does anyone has other tips of how to prove living together without a lease or a landord letter, what have others sent?
Thanks again.

 

[Ponga]

Thanks Ponga, we did got the life insurance for him, you are right there is no way to get it for me, which is very confusing for CIC to ask for both.

About the neighbors letters, can anyone help me understand if they would be valid without being notarized? other posts are very specific about landlord letters HAVE to be notarized or wont be part of application. However friends letters seem to be fine just signed...is there any difference with my neighbors?

Does anyone has other tips of how to prove living together without a lease or a landord letter, what have others sent?
Thanks again.

You have to consider the viewpoint of the visa officer that works on your application:

Letters from friends/neighbours (regarding your joint- tenancy)...may be legitimate

Letters from friends/neighbours (regarding your joint- tenancy) that are notarized...a bit easier to accept.

IMHO, you should beg and plead with the landlord to give you the letter.

As others have suggested (mail, joint utilities, etc.,) are good, but the letter would be more valuable to you. I'm NOT saying that without it you'll be denied; just suggesting that you keep trying!

 

[Rob_TO]

About the neighbors letters, can anyone help me understand if they would be valid without being notarized? other posts are very specific about landlord letters HAVE to be notarized or wont be part of application. However friends letters seem to be fine just signed...is there any difference with my neighbors?

For most common-law apps, the country specific guide specifically states at least 2 letter must be notarized. If you are using these letter due to no landlord letter, I would definitely get them notarized.

also what kind of receipt have applicants send to show they share expenses? since receipts will be either on mine account or his..or you mean paying stuff with our joint account?? im just confused of what kind of tickets or bank statements can show is shared since nothing we buy is payed half and half...will grocery bill count then?

Some people have showed receipts for household items or furniture purchased, and explained in a letter to CIC how they are both contributing to the home.

finally im intrigued about the employer insurance for common law mentioned before..can anyone explain what is this?

When you become common-law, if the Canadian is working for an employer providing benefits, at a minimum they can usually be added onto the insurance plan as beneficiary even if they don't have provincial health coverage yet.

We ave avoided Canadian based joint bank accounts and anything else that could show plans to live here or establish in Canada while on a TRV. Has this been unnecessary, do you think we can open a joint account in Canada etc?

If you don't want CBSA to know about any Canadian joint accounts, then just don't bring information about those accounts with you when you cross the border.
However many foreigners have bank accounts in Canada, so it's really not a big deal.